LAND USE PLAN TRINCOMALEE DISTRICT Prepared under the programme of implementation of recommendations given by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) 2016 Land Use Policy Planning Department Ministry of Lands Page | 1 Secretary’s Message Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) made several recommendations pertaining to the proper use of land in the country. The responsibility for implementing these recommendations were shared by the different institutions coming under the purview of the Ministry of Lands i.e. Land Commissioner’s General Department, Land Settlement Department, Land Use Policy Planning Department, Land Reform Commission. One of the recommendations made by the LLRC was to prepare Land Use Plans for the districts in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. The Ministry handed over this responsibility to the Land Use Policy Planning Department. The task was completed by May 2016. I would like to thank all the National Level Officers and officers in the Trincomalee District who assisted in preparing this plan and the Director General of the Land Use Policy Planning Department and her staff for doing a good job. I have great pleasure in presenting the Land Use Plan for the Trincomalee district. Dr. I.H.K. Mahanama Secretary, Ministry of Lands Page | 2 Director General’s Message I have great pleasure in presenting the Land Use Plan for the Trincomalee district prepared by the officers of the Land Use Policy Planning Department. This task was commenced with limited resources in the Department, but subsequently, the much needed resources for field work were provided by the Ministry of Lands. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many individuals who helped us in preparing the plan. I wish to thank in particular the Secretary, Ministry of Lands; the Government Agent/District Secretary and the Divisional Secretaries of the Trincomalee district; members of the National Expert Group (NEG); the District Expert Group (DEG); the Divisional Level Officers the members of the farmer organizations. Finally my thanks go to the staff at the Head Office of the Land Use Policy Planning Department and the district level for their commitment despite the many hardships faced by them, particularly in conducting the required field studies. I trust this plan will be used as a decision making tool for promoting wise land use in the district. P.M. Shanthi Fernando Director General Page | 3 MEMEBERS OF THE FIELD TEAM The team was guided and coordinated by Mr. A.N.J. Fernando, Land Use Planning Officer, District Land Use Planning Office, Trincomalee according to the directions given by the staff at the Head Office. Land Use Plan has been compiled by Mr. B.A. Jayananda, Deputy Director (Land Use Planning), Land Use Policy Planning Department, Head Office, Narahenpita, Colombo 05. The following teams of officers have been involved in field data collection, mapping and conducting of meetings 1. Mr. W. Palitha Weerakkodi, Land Use Planning Officer, District Land Use Planning Office, Trincomalee. 2. Mr. M.I. Fawmy, Land Use Planning Officer, Kinniya DSD 3. Mr. A.W.M.Unas, Land Use Planning Officer, Muthur DSD 4. Mr. S. Udaya Kumar, Land Use Planning Officer, District Land Use Planning Office 5. Mrs. S. Mahendran, Development Officer, District Land Use Planning Office 6. Mr. A. Sanjeew, Development Officer, Town and Gravet DSD 7. Mr. N. Logaseelan, Development Officer, District Land Use Planning Office 8. Mr. T. Pradeepan, Development Officer, Seruwila DSD 9. Mr. S. Arulchallan, Development Officer, Verugal DSD 10. Mr. V. Siridaran, Development Officer, Gomarankadawala DSD 11. Mr. A. Vijikaran, Development Officer, Kuchchaveli DSD 12. Mrs. A. J. Jafeena Umma, Development Officer, Thambalagamuwa DSD Map Preparation, additional field data collection and data analysis. During the process of field work and report writing stage as well as data analysis following Land Use Planning Officers have been involved and contributed to successful completion of this document. 1. Mr. Ajith Sujeewa Biyanwilage, Land Use Planning Officer, Head Office 2. Mrs. M.A.S. Krishanthi, Land Use Planning Officer, Head Office 3. Mr. K.D. Nilantha, Land Use Planning Officer, Head Office 4. Mr. W.A. Manuka Sampath, Land Use Planning Officer, Head Office 5. Mrs. E.H.S.G. Ekanayake, Land Use Planning Officer, Head Office 6. Mrs. S.J. Keerthisinghe, Land Use Planning Officer, Head Office 7. Mrs. R.M.R.D. Karunarathne, Land Use Planning Officer, Head Office 8. Miss. K. Nirosha Sandamali, Development Officer, Head Office Page | 4 PART – 01 BACKGROUND 1. INTRODUCTION The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) of 2011 recommended that “a land use plan for each District in the North and East should be developed with the participation of district and national experts drawn from various relevant disciplines to guide the district administration in land conservation and alienation in order to ensure protection of environment and bio-diversity; sustainable economic development; leisure and recreational standards; religious, cultural and archaeological sites with a view to improving the quality of life of the present and future generations”. The preparation of the plans was entrusted to the Land Use Policy Planning Department (LUPPD). The LUPPD started the planning process by establishing two expert groups, one at the National Level and other at the District Level. Field work of the planning process was commenced in 2013. Initially the available land use maps were updated to study the current patterns of land use and subsequently major land use issues were identified based on the field investigations. Recommendations to address the land use issues were formulated and these were presented to the Expert Groups and stakeholders for their views and comments. The plan for the district has been prepared by incorporating the views and comments of the Expert Groups and the stakeholders. The report is divided into two parts. The administrative structure, physical environment, demography, infrastructure, existing spatial plans of the district are presented in the part I. The methodology adapted, existing land use of the district, the issues pertaining to major land uses and the proposed land use plan including the recommendations to address the land use issues and the suggested implementation strategy are presented in the part ii. 2. DISTRICT PROFILE 2.1. Introduction The District of Trincomalee is situated in the Eastern coast of Sri Lanka. This district falls within the Northern longitudes of 80 5’ 54.53’’ to 80 59’ 52.15” and Eastern latitudes of 800 44’ 38.96” to 81027’53.86”. This District is bordered with Mullathivu District in North, Anuradhapura District in West and Polonnaruwa and Batticaloa Districts in the South. The Eastern side of the District is bordered by the sea of Bengal. This District covers an area of 2,630 square kilometers. Trincomalee history goes back to a time of immemorial. The Mahavansa & Chulavansa, the two great chronicles, mention present Trincomalee as “Gokanna”, “Gokarana”, and “Gonagamaka” during the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods of Island’s history. Page | 5 2.2 Administrative Structure Administratively, the Trincomalee District is belongs to Eastern Province. The District is divided in to 11 Divisional Secretary’s Divisions (Annex-01). These Divisional Secretary Divisions are further subdivided in to 230 Grama Niladhary’s Divisions (the smallest Administrative Unit) and 687 villages (Table 1 and Figure 1). The details of G.N.Divisions are given in the annex-02. Table 01- Land Distribution, G.N. Divisions and No. of Villages– Trincomalee District No. of G.N. No. of S/N Name of the Division Area (Km2) Divisions Villages 01 Trincomalee (T & G) 148.0 42 112 02 Padavisripura 217.1 10 26 03 Gomarankadawala 285.0 10 41 04 Kinniya 146.9 31 107 05 Seruwila 279..0 17 28 06 Muttur 179.4 42 96 07 Kanthale 397.3 23 62 08 Kuchchaveli 313.3 24 86 09 Morawewa 322.4 10 41 10 Thambalagamuwa 244.4 12 48 11 Verugal 98.0 09 40 Total 2,630.8 230 687 Source: Dept: of Census and Statistics- 2012 There are two Urban Councils in this District namely, Trincomalee UC and Kinniya UC. In addition, balance area of the district is covered by 11 “Pradeshiya Saphas” (local Authorities) i.e.I). Trincomalee, ii) Padavisri pura, iii) Gomaranakandawala, IV) Kinniya, v) Mutthur, VI) Seruwila, vii) Kanthale, viii) Kuchchaveli, ix) Morawewa, x) Thambalagamuwa, xi) Verugal (Annex-03). In this District there are, 03 Electoral Divisions such as (a). Seruwila (b). Trincomalee (c). Muttur. In the Trincomalee District there are 23 Agrarian Development Centers, such as Morawewa, Nilavely, Kurinachkernry, Padavi-Sripura, Kuchchavely, Pulmoddai, Kinniya, Sampaltheevu, Kiliveddy, Sampoor, Kanathalai, Seruwila, Jinnanagar, Thampalagamam, Gomaranakandawala, Trincomalee, Agbopura, Uppuvely, Mullipothanai, Vaanela, Munnampody-veddai, Verugal and Muttur (Annex-04). Page | 6 Page | 7 2.3 Physical Environment 2.3.1. Topography The total District Land Extent is about 2728 Km2 including water bodies. Water bodies cover an extent of 96.59Km. The topography of the District is mainly an undulating plain with a long coastal belt of 350Km length, which is associated with 10 Bays and 15 lagoons. Trincomalee District is the most important district strategically in Eastern Province because of its natural harbor and associated port. Topographically, Trincomalee District is consisted with undulating terrains, and flat to nearly flat areas including coastal plains and natural flood plains. However, the Trincomalee coastal region comprises the gemorphological types describe below including: (1). Hills and cliffs; (2). Dunes; (3). Estuaries; (4). Beach bars and spits and; (5). Beaches/ Shorelines. (i). Hills & Cliffs Hills are a distinctive feature of Trincomalee Bay and the Island within it. Kokkupeechiyakallu is a rocky outcrop in Kuchchaveli DS Division in Thampalagamam Bay. Peithivu is another good example of a rocky outcrop in Trincomalee District. High cliffs occur rarely on rocky shores.